The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-19
FOR THE GOOD OF YOUNG MEN
How the Work of the Young Mems
Christian Association Can BE Helped.
Addresses by Messrs. HUMPHREYS, Douglass
and Day-Rev Hyde's Sermon Yesterday
on Religion in Business"

A series Of talks and lectures of the interest
Ing character of those given At Meridian-ssreet
Church last night would do much toward giving
church members and others better apprecia-
ton of the great good that can be accomplished
by properly encouraging the Young Mems Chris
tian Association. The speakers were T. Humph-
rey and f. W. Douglass. State secretaries of the
z. n. G. A, and Z. C. Day, president of the To-
cal organization. Each discussed q separate
phase of the work OF the association.
Mr.. Humphrey spoke first on the association
as an aid to counterfeit the attractions of vicious
resorts. He said the question can harQy be
argued. Counter attractions needed for
young men when it Is realized that more than ~
per cent. of the young men OF Indiana are out
Bide the influence of any church organization
81 wonder" he said. 'tf these percentages mean
anything to us2 I cannot help recalling an illus
trative incident that occurred in connection
with visit of another worker and myself to
small town in northern Indiana. On one Satur-
day night, between 10 and IL o'clock. we visited
the different saloons end counted in them
$50 young men. more than eight times many
ms could be found at all the different churches
the next day. Dr. Strong says that the problem
OF our country for the next century is the prob
lem of our great cities. and 1 say the problem of
men. Something must be done, and done in an
Intelligent way. In order to properly influence
young men a study Of their character must be
made. You would think fisherman very fool
ish who should fish for salmon with a trout hook,
or who should try TO catch trout,with salmon
hook. So with our work. The gymnasium, the
bowling alley and the bathrooms are appliances
which wish to adapt TO bring the young men
to Christ. By those aida we get young men to
associate together. One thing that we have
1Ohly lie m
bound to have associates, and the question is
what kind shall they be. I think you will all
agree with me that they ought to be pure. By
means Of our clean, lighted rooms, our attract
i've gymnasium, our educational classes, our
library and our kindly treatment think we
have provided more attractive place than the
saloons, and the associates we provide there are
Of the purest Christian character"
Mr.. T. w. Douglass next spoke on the aues-
ton of how the Y NJ. c. A. could be made the
most useful in winning young men to Christ.
He said that tbs association was indebted to the
citizens of Indianapolis for the magnificent
building that had been erected here, and it
affords abundant attractions for the young men.
After getting them together he said the first eff
fort is to afford them good company. The work
In this and other matters is all done through
pommitreea. The speaker here read extract
from the Y. NJ. c. A. Waterman, and urged the
necessity of getting the best young men of the
different churches to work on the committees.
The kind Of men needed are those OF courage,
faith and spiritual strength.
Mr. Z. G. Day rext gave q general talk, in the
course of which he said, al want to first answer
the question that Is often asked of me, why do
rou put much stress upon the pursuit Of
young menp want to say that God has pro-
vided but one means for the spread of His gospel,
c. A. is an association for young men We seek
10 gain them exclusively. have long since
given mp the ides Of young ladies
over young men. While men are young they
are more influenced by the habits and tastes of
pne another than by any other cause. Later in
sf1~ fn1~x %f,4 ,~A.x
ence. Another reason why we devote ourselves
to young men alone is that we may concentrate
our influence. Only the deep river bear
ships upon its bosom. The water that spreads
all over the country from an overlooking river,
is not big river; il is only a few inches deep.
and serves no other purpose than to make
marshes. Therefore, will bear the name of
being narrow and devote ourselves to young
men alone want at some time to issue
circular to the people of Indianapolis and thank
them for the great work they have done IN
giving as our present building, but l wish
also to add the necessity of
couraging by their influence the
sslnwise to build beautiful ship and then leave
it in the dock In order to serve its purpose il
must be manned and loaded with merchandise.
What we now need in our Y. NJ G. A. work is
young men to fill mp our committees We need
the best young men in our city. great many
people have the idea that the Y. NJ G. A is
men without homes. Did ir ever occur to you
that little prevention for young man is much
better than great deal of cure. and the best
young men of the city who have nice homes
are not going to spend all their
evenings there. When they do go outl it not
better for them to 60 TO some place OF amuse
mene where there are temptations to vicel
We need the encouragement of their presence
and need them for our work. No one should
be backward about aiding from inability to
talk we'll We want workers and not takers
and the numerous committees afford work adapt
cd Co all characters"
Mr. Day closed by paying tribute to the
women's auxiliary, and urging the Importance
ofthe Y. NJ. c. a work as an aid in building up
the membership of the different churches.